Draven's crimson eyes never left the Rift Breakers.
Dark purple mist poured continuously from their colossal bodies.
Every strand of Abyssal mana that escaped was immediately drawn toward him.
Like countless rivers flowing into the sea.
Within him—
the Folding Mass never ceased.
Layer after layer—
it folded the mana.
Compressed it.
Forced it deeper into his body.
His expression remained calm.
Though blood still trickled from the corner of his lips.
"...I'll be eating my fill."
His voice was quiet.
Almost indifferent.
Yet his thoughts remained focused.
*...Sixty percent.*
*About sixty percent of what I need.*
*Using mana during the battle will consume part of it...*
*But I'll recover it by absorbing theirs.*
*Just a few more...*
*Then I'll have enough.*
His gaze shifted.
"Pythia."
She immediately lowered her head.
"...My Lord."
"...Retreat from this chamber."
Without the slightest hesitation—
"...Understood."
She turned at once.
"Lady Kaelira."
The wolf girl immediately looked over.
"...We're leaving?"
Pythia nodded.
"...My Lord's orders."
Kaelira didn't question it.
"...Alright."
She tightened her grip on Draven's belongings.
"...Come on."
She immediately headed toward the corridor they had entered through.
Pythia followed closely beside her.
Ryke didn't hesitate for even a heartbeat.
"...Move!"
He practically sprinted after them.
*I'm not staying anywhere near those things!*
Within moments—
the three disappeared into the passageway.
The remaining cultists exchanged frightened glances.
Then hurried after them.
The elders also began withdrawing, maintaining their protective barriers as they retreated.
Draven never looked away from the Rift Breakers.
Without shifting his gaze—
he spoke.
"...Hey."
The burgundy-haired vampire grinned.
"...Yeah?"
"...Hold the other one off for me."
"...Would you?"
Silence.
Then—
Aldric's grin widened.
"...Since you asked so nicely..."
He slowly rolled his shoulders.
**Crack.**
**Crack.**
His neck tilted lazily from side to side.
"...Guess I can do that."
His crimson eyes slowly brightened.
Dark mana spread silently beneath his feet.
"...Just don't take forever."
He stepped forward.
One step.
Then another.
The nearest Rift Breaker immediately locked onto him.
It roared.
**ROOOAAARRR—!!**
Aldric answered with a laugh.
"...Too loud."
"...Shut up."
**BOOM!!**
The stone floor exploded beneath his feet.
His figure vanished.
The massive Rift Breaker swung both colossal arms toward him.
Too late.
Aldric had already appeared beside its shoulder.
His fist crashed into its armored hide.
**BOOOOOOM—!!**
A deafening shockwave erupted throughout the chamber.
The monster staggered several steps sideways.
Each footfall shattered the ancient stone beneath it.
Aldric landed lightly upon the fractured floor.
He casually rolled one shoulder.
His crimson eyes calmly swept over the towering Rift Breaker.
The creature slowly straightened.
Its massive chest rose and fell.
Dark purple mana leaked continuously from the crimson fissures covering its body.
Aldric grinned.
"...Didn't think that would've done much."
He flexed his fingers.
"...Good."
"...Looks like we're going to have ourselves a nice little playtime."
The Rift Breaker's crimson eyes flashed.
Without warning—
its enormous fist crashed toward him.
**BOOM—!!**
The ground exploded.
Aldric had already vanished.
The colossal fist buried itself deep within the stone platform.
Before the creature could recover—
Aldric appeared beside its arm.
"...Too slow."
Dark crimson mana erupted around him.
Dozens of blood constructs materialized in an instant.
Spears.
Blades.
Chains.
They surged toward the Rift Breaker from every direction.
**BOOM!!**
**BOOM!!**
**BOOM!!**
The constructs detonated against its armored hide.
Fragments of black armor scattered throughout the chamber.
The Rift Breaker roared in fury.
Aldric clicked his tongue.
"...Still not enough."
His eyes briefly shifted away.
Toward the opposite side of the chamber.
Draven was already engaged with the second Rift Breaker.
Even as they exchanged blows—
dark strands of Abyssal mana continued flowing from the monster into his body.
Beyond them—
the Abyssal Breach widened once more.
Another pair of monstrous claws slowly emerged from the darkness.
Then another.
Aldric's grin faded ever so slightly.
"...Yeah..."
"...That's not looking too good."
His gaze shifted farther back.
Toward the five elders.
Toward the retreating cultists.
They were steadily making their way toward the corridor.
Not running—
but leaving all the same.
Aldric watched them for a moment.
Then smiled.
"...Oi."
No one answered.
The elders continued retreating.
"...Where do you think you're going?"
**BOOM!!**
The floor exploded beneath Aldric's feet.
He vanished.
The retreating cultists froze.
In the next instant—
Aldric appeared directly before them.
Blocking the entrance to the corridor.
His smile widened.
"...Leaving your guests unattended..."
He slowly spread his arms.
"...At your own party?"
Silence.
The cultists instinctively came to a halt.
Several immediately raised defensive barriers.
Others hurried behind the elders.
Dray frowned beneath his bandages.
"...We accomplish nothing by remaining."
"...If we stay..."
"...We die."
Aldric chuckled.
"...Maybe."
"...But I don't remember saying you were allowed to leave."
The masked elder calmly met his gaze.
"...If the Breach continues expanding..."
His eyes drifted toward the widening tear in space.
"...None of us will survive."
"...Including you."
Aldric shrugged.
"...Sounds like a future problem."
He jerked a thumb toward Draven without looking back.
"...Besides..."
"...The brat's still eating."
"...You lot are staying until he's finished."
Dray's eyes narrowed.
"...And if we refuse?"
Aldric's smile disappeared.
The amusement vanished from his face.
His crimson eyes glowed with an ominous light.
"...Then I'll break every bone in your bodies..."
"...Drag you back..."
"...And make you watch."
Silence.
Not a single cultist dared utter a word.
Behind Aldric—
another deafening roar shook the chamber.
**ROOOOOAAARRR—!!**
A fourth Rift Breaker forced its way through the widening Breach.
Stone exploded outward beneath its weight.
Dark purple mist flooded the ancient ruins.
The oppressive pressure surged once again.
Aldric didn't even bother looking back.
A slow grin returned to his face.
"...See?"
"...Looks like the party's only just getting started."